Bridge lifted to replace damaged bearing

The Madison-Milton bridge will remain closed through at least the first week of April, officials announced Saturday morning.

Crews used jacks to raise the southeast corner of the Madison-Milton bridge about a foot Friday to correct a problem when a steel bearing failed earlier this month.

The jacking began around 3:19 p.m., a post on the official bridge Twitter account reported. The lift was completed at 8 p.m. Four 250-ton jacks raised the superstructure about four inches in the first hour of work at Pier 2 of the Milton side.

Crews had to jack up the corner of the steel superstructure after a bearing dislodged March 11, causing the emergency closure of the bridge.

The jacking allowed the superstructure to be lifted away from the temporary pier so crews could replace the repaired bearing.

After the bearing is replaced, crews will finish installation of sliding harnesses to prepare for the final bridge slide.

The bridge will remain closed while crews connect the bridge to the permanent approaches once the slide is complete.

No date has been set for the bridge slide. The bridge is expected to remain closed through at least the end of the month, officials said.